Josh Poulter’s Big Board – February Edition 18-25

The first installment of Josh Poulter’s 2017 Big Board. Today we see positions 18-25, with 11-17 and 1-10 to be released in the coming days. Agree or disagree with Josh’s rankings, let him know on twitter @JoshPoulter04 or via the AFL Draft Hub facebook page here.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Club: North Adelaide/Northern Territory

A tall midfielder who can also play as a dangerous forward. Grant is a player who, at his best is within of the top echelon of the 2017 draft class. However he can be seen as inconsistent at times. Possessing all the traits to become a dominant player of 2017, Grant works well inside packs and is able to gather the ball and win clearances. Equally effective away from the contest, he works well on the outside using his proficient lateral movement. Grant’s kicking is an issue and something he’ll need to address as he looks to make a mark in his top age year, after a very successful bottom-age campaign in 2016.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Club: Ainsile/NSW-ACT/GWS Academy

The small inside midfielder is tied to the GWS Giants Academy and has impressed at every representative level he has participated in so far. Powell has made his debut for NSW/ACT Rams and the Allies in the Under 18s championships last season. While simultaneously chalking up the accolades for Ainsile in the Canberra Premier League and GWS Reserves in the NEAFL. Powell gathers the ball with a ever impressive degree of slickness and has the capacity to find the goals when playing as a forward. Powell has surprisingly solid hands hands for a player of his size and is also very competent overhead. Showing his acumen in his early career, Powell won the medal for best on ground against New Zealand in 2016 for the AFL Academy. A pure Canberra bred product, Powell may become the highest player ever to be drafted out of the region.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Club: Eastern Ranges/Victoria Metro

A midfielder who possesses elite evasiveness and lateral movement. Garner excites on-lookers with his blistering pace and shows the qualities to suggest he has that “x-factor” potential required to turn a game on its head. He has also played off-half back for Eastern in the TAC Cup. Garner can rest up forward and kick goals. On his day, Joel Garner has the ability to change a game single handedly and is only requires to find this form consistently in order to push his name up further in the lead up to the 2017 draft.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Club: Western Jets/Victoria Metro

A midfielder by trade, who spent most of his time playing a different role up forward for the Western Jets in 2016. Rayner took games by “the scruff of the neck” as a forward, showcasing his undeniable talent as he kicked 7 goals against the Bendigo Pioneers and another 5 against the Calder Cannons. He is powerful at the stoppages and he has the traits to be able to break away from the packs with a mix of power and explosiveness. Rayner will play more as a midfielder in his top-age year and will be a dangerous proposition for any defense as he looks to solidify his name as one of the best Under 18 players in the nation.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Club: Gippsland Power/Victoria Country

The former flying Boomerangs MVP is Gipplsand’s leading prospect for 2017. He has the capability to play in a range of positions but seems most settled as an outside midfielder or a wingman, who can rest up forward. Hayes has an innate ability to evade tacklers and use the ball effectively on the move. He could very well be the first indigenous prospect drafted in 2017.

Position: Midfielder

Club: Western Jets/Victoria Metro

An inside midfielder who was the Under 16s Victoria Metro MVP in 2015. Fogarty does the inside grunt work as he hunts the ball with aggression on the inside. He is a ball carrier who can produce defensively, totaling huge tackle numbers. Fogarty is a strong runner and can provide great spread from the contest, however he hasn’t been able to showcase this within the TAC Cup where he has only played 5 games. To date, he has spent most of his time playing APS school football for St Kevin’s College. Fogarty’s kicking is solid for an inside midfielder. He will need to consistently improve this if he is to become an all round midfielder that can play multiple roles around the ground. At face value, 2017’s “other” Fogarty looks to be a clear high range draft pick in his own right.

Position: Midfielder

Club: Dandenong Stingrays/Victoria Country

A top 5 prospect on talent alone, Davies-Uniacke has been unluckily cruelled by injury in recent times. Having only appeared twice for the Dandenong Stingrays late in 2016 after, an appearance for Victoria Country in the Under 18 championships mid-year. He has a frame is that is ready made to step into an AFL system and not look out of place. To coincide with his physically developed body, Davies-Uniacke stamps his authority around the midfield with class and composure. He utilizes these traits with uniquely gifted skills by both hand and foot, a rarity for a pure inside midfielder.

Position: Midfielder

Club: East Perth/Western Australia

A big bodied midfielder who also spent time as a forward when playing for the Western Australia state side. Starcevich has the frame and strength to be able to hold off opponents one on one, giving him a competitive edge in all 50/50 situations. He is also a strong overhead mark, spending time throughout his junior football as a main target up forward. Starcevich’s kicking is one area that needs addressing, as he seems to rush with ball in hand and tends just drop it on the boot to kick out of congestion too often. Despite this minor flaw, Starcevich remains one of Western Australia’s best 2017 draft prospects.